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Denmark - Seelite has supplied lighting, project management and design for The Roskilde Festival's two largest stages - Orange and Arena - for many years, and will return again this year. Metallica, Björk and Iron Maiden will all perform on the Orange stage, for which Seelite will supply the lighting and truss systems, plus two large PA support wings.

The company is also supplying lighting and roofing installations to include more than 35 moving lights and 230 generic lights for The Midtfyns Festival 2003. Among this year's artists are REM, Moloko, Badly Drawn Boy and Swan Lee.

In another recent project, John Svendsen of A/S Corporate Events chose Seelite to provide production design for SimCorp's event, held at Odense Congress Centre in June. The assignment was to plan, decora

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Germany / UK - Sennheiser has added to its well-known miniature lavalier microphone series with the Sennheiser HS 2, a lightweight and rugged headset microphone specifically designed for professional theatre, stage, TV and broadcast applications.

The HS 2 features the audio pedigree of Sennheiser's MKE 2 Gold lavalier omni-directional microphone, combined with a durable and flexible gooseneck that enables discrete, accurate positioning. Suitable for use with the comprehensive range of Sennheiser wireless bodypack transmitters, the HS 2 is equipped with a 3-pin connector, compatible with Sennheiser 3000 and 5000 series products.

The assembly is available in anthracite or beige and audio performance matches that of the Sennheiser MKE 2 Gold, including low self-noise and a special Umbrella Diaphragm which protects the MKE 2 Gold against sweat and moisture. Sonic performance has b

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UK - The Speedfogger is an innovative new smoke machine from Le Maitre. The new system offers users speedy set-ups, an integral spill-proof 5-litre fluid tank, high thermal power, and status indicators, and fast fogging with high, controllable, continuous output. The unit is also easy to service and has simple and low cost replacement routines for all serviceable parts.

The Speedfogger features Le Maitre's Rapid Change Technology (RCT). As those who have used them will know, the biggest service issue of a fog machine is a plugged heating block often as a result of normal wear and tear. The Speedfogger uses an innovative heat exchanger design allowing the block to be changed quickly and easily on site. All Speedfoggers come with Rapid Change Technology and integral fluid tank, but the rest is up to you. If you just want a simple on/off variflow remote control, then why pay for an

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Indochine X PixMob Fan Immersion

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's - 40 thousand LED pixels on a ceiling!!! Indochine's whirlwind tour transports fans to another level of the live experience - immersing them from floor to ceiling with PixMob's X4 wristbands, and an LED ceiling made entirely of its NOVA Minis! With the vision of Indochine's creative team, PixMob used its LED fan-technology to turn attendees and venues into an ocean of effects, and a starry sky of LED magic. Très très cool!

Read more about the Indochine tour in the latest issue of LSi

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UK - Pro audio equipment manufacturer Formula Sound has updated its website in response to the increasing levels of attention being paid to noise control and the entertainment licensing laws. The site now includes a brand new noise control feature outlining legislation covering the subject. It also provides details of how various items of Formula Sound equipment can be used to help venues meet their noise control responsibilities.

With over 30 years' experience in the pro audio world, Formula Sound is well placed to advise on noise control, whether in entertainment venues or industrial locations. In addition to the new noise control content, the company's revised website also contains both general information and detailed specification data on Formula Sound's extensive range of products.

These include a variety of noise control units, rack-mount, standby, zoner and fixed forma

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UK - DHA has picked up a design award from the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) for its work on the Magna Centre in Rotherham - the redundant steel works which was transformed into a visitor attraction devoted to science. The company created the acclaimed Electric Arc Furnace feature, as well as designing the architectural lighting for the Great Hall at the Centre. Co-director David Robertson accepted the award at the IALD ceremony in New York with joint winner Jonathan Speirs of Speirs & Major.

(Ruth Rossington)

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UK - One of the more interesting developments to come out of this year's Glastonbury Festival was the launch of a UK trade union for road and backstage crew. The formation of the Roadcrew Provident Syndicate (already short-handed to the Roadies Provy) was announced at a special session at Glastonbury on the Left Field Stage on Friday 27 June.

The union will be a branch of the GMB, one of the UK's biggest trade unions, and will provide financial advice and support to its members, as well the usual union benefits. You can read a full report on this in the July issue of Lighting&Sound International - out next week.

(Ruth Rossington)

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Germany - Acoustic Design Ahnert (ADA) of Germany, creator of the EASE Acoustical Analysis software package, has announced the establishment of the ADA Foundation. Its first aim is to make EASE more readily available to the educational world.

Based in Berlin, Germany, the ADA Foundation was officially founded earlier this year by Dr. Wolfgang Ahnert, Dr. Rainer Feistel and Stefan Feistel. The main purpose of the Foundation is to initiate and support education in room acoustics, electro acoustics, sound reinforcement, acoustic simulation and the development of scientific software for these areas. As such, the Foundation actively supports universities, colleges and other educational establishments by supplying software for the simulation of acoustics.

Dr. Ahnert explains: "Many young architects, acousticians and audio system designers finish their degree courses and enter t

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Denmark - Lars Frederiksen has recently joined d&b audiotechnik, following a varied career as a sound designer and engineer. Frederiksen had previously been touring as a sound engineer with pop rock group 'Jette Torp Band', and had also worked with Danish production company Rossen & Rønnow.

When not touring, he provided a sound design consultancy through his own company. "My main interest in music and sound production has been working with acoustic instruments," he explained. "To me, the ultimate challenge is to amplify musical instruments and still preserve the acoustic quality of the sound. Because of that interest I've worked with a great variety of musical genres such as symphony orchestras, opera companies, musical productions and Irish/Scottish folk groups".

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

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UK - Liverpool-based Adlib Audio emptied their warehouse of people and kit last weekend, servicing no less than four major events around the North West.

The Coral played to a packed and excited 5,000 capacity marquee on The Front at New Brighton, the Wirral. Their regular engineers, Adlib's Dave Kay at FOH and Paul Roberts on monitors, were in action using a JBL Vertec line array system supplied by Adlib. This came complete with a Soundcraft Series 5 console front of house, and a Midas XL3 onstage, plus another pair of consoles to deal with the support bands.

Adlib's Andy Dockerty and Nick Bellis also engineered the Southport Jazz Festival, staged at Southport Theatre. For this they used Midas Heritage 3000 consoles at both ends of the multicore and another Vertec line array system. The two-day event featured a number of international acts, including Snake Davis, Heather Small

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UK - With German pro audio concern HK Audio having made huge inroads into the UK & Eire pro audio market in recent years, the JHS Event 2003 was the ideal opportunity for HK Audio to demonstrate the versatility and power of its range.

For the first time in its six-year run, Event had live bands on the main stage, with 12 boxes of HK's stadium-friendly R Series on a separate stage this time. Elsewhere on the JHS site, the dedicated HK Audio demo theatre featured many pro audio systems and components from the HK catalogue, including the highly successful LUCAS, ELIAS and ACTOR self-powered active PAs.

Also included were recent additions to the HK Audio line-up - the passive Linear 3, the respected Installation Line, HK's portable active monitor, DART, and the compact, but powerful, LUCAS XT.HK Audio's Installation Line in particular, has made a real mark in a number of recent hi

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UK - Turbosound monitor loudspeakers have been installed in two new rehearsal rooms at Music Bank - one of London's main rehearsal facilities. The choice of TFM-450 floor monitors for the project (together with a pair of THL-2 systems as side-fills), reflects the product's growing popularity in the live sound market, with a total of eight systems being installed by UK specialist Crystal Pro Audio.

Music Bank's new facilities - the East and West rooms - offer over 3,500sq.ft of rehearsal space, and are part of a major expansion programme at Music Bank. Nunu Whiting, director and manager of Music Bank, commented: "After an extremely successful install with TMS-3s in our original studios, it seemed logical to contact Turbosound again when it came to fitting outthe new rehearsal studios and programming suites. Crystal Pro Audio and Bryan Grant (Britannia Row) both recommended t

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USA - Lighting Designer Jeff Ravitz has been nominated for an Emmy Award by the Pacific Southwest chapter of the National Television Academy, and has also been honoured with a 'Platinum Best of Show' Aurora Award.

The Emmy nomination, Ravitz's third, is for his work on the Christmas special, Carols By Candlelight, presented by Channel 4 San Diego and carried by the Cox Cable Network. The Aurora Award was presented for the lighting design created for Univision's El Grito, the Mexican Independence Day special broadcast live from the steps of the Los Angeles City Hall.

Ravitz, a partner in the LA design firm, Visual Terrain Inc, previously received a Primetime Emmy for his work on the Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band's HBO special.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

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UK - ARB beamed live skateboard and BMX action across London's Millennium Dome throughout the Snickers 'Game On' festival this June. Over 25,000 people flocked to the two-day weekend event, billed as "the largest SK8, BMX, Rock and Hip Hop party in Europe".

Presented by Kerrang!, the event featured some of the most influential names in extreme sport and music, with over 30 bands playing across the two stages, including Cypress Hill, The Vandals, Electric Six and Kellie Osbourne.

A giant bowl was constructed to accommodate the skate and BMX competition. Competing skaters and BMX riders, surrounded by grandstand seating for 1,500 fans, included Shaun White, Matt Hoffman, and Jake Brown, fighting to win the £30,000 prize fund.

ARB supplied two of its Barco 7 D-Lite LED screens, allowing those attendees who couldn't get a seat in the arena to watch from outside. ARB'

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Positive feedback from Members to new-style Association Day

PLASA hosted its 2003 Association Day and Annual General Meeting on Friday 6 June, in the impressive surroundings of the historic Coombe Abbey Hotel, near Coventry.

The PLASA Association Day is designed to incorporate the Association's AGM into a full day's activity, offering PLASA Members an event that is both useful and enjoyable, as PLASA's managing director Matthew Giffiths outlined: "We've made a conscious effort in recent years to get away from the focus on the AGM: this meeting is a legal formality for an Association, and is itself over very quickly. The real value of the Association Day then arises from the seminars, discussions, networking and entertainment which follow - all of which is heavily subsidized by the Association and is there for members to take up."

The AGM itself provided the opport

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Sweden - Swedish sound rental company Lagom & Gött has installed a Nexo GEO T Tangent Array System in the famous Kungsträdgården in central Stockholm, which hosts free concerts throughout the summer months.

The Kungsträdgården, or Kings Garden, is a well-established outdoor venue in one of the city's parks. There has been a permanent stage at the venue for 50 years, and, for the last 5 years, Lagom & Gött has provided a sound system for the summer events. As many as 20,000 people will turn up for a show, although the audience size is usually around 1,500.

The varying attendance provided one of the reasons why Lagom & Gött specified GEO T for the installation at the venue. "GEO T offers the same level of output to someone 5 metres from the stage, as to someone 50 metres from the stage," says engineer LG Larsson. "It's small but it has a big capacity, allo

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UK - A few years ago The Cabinet War Rooms (CWR) in London were opened to the public. These are the rooms, in a former government storage basement, from which Churchill and his ministers continued the work of government during the bombing raids of World War II.

A team of specialists, including the Imperial War Museum (of which CWR is a part), architects HOK and managing contractors Bovis Lend Lease, recently opened up additional areas that have been hidden since the war - a move which also paved the way for an extension of the education facilities and the creation of a new conference and meeting area.

Electrosonic worked with the team to provide AV facilities for the new spaces. The principal space is a flexible room that can seat up to 140 people in auditorium-style. When used as an auditorium the room is set out 'sideways' which brings the presenter nearer the audience and e

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UK / Austria - In the past there has been demand for a version of AKG's C 444 L - designed for wireless use only - to act as a wired microphone as well. AKG has now responded by offering the C 444 PP as a wired solution with an integrated phantom power adaptor.

The C444 head-worn microphone from AKG is rugged and extremely easy to use. Resting securely and comfortably on the head, it is the ideal microphone for any hands-free application. New cheek pads ensure the C444 always stays in place, even if you turn your head abruptly, and a capsule shock mount reduces handling noise to a minimum. A frequency response rise at 10kHz and roll-off below 800Hz ensure optimum audio and intelligibility, even in noisy environments. The new moisture shield prevents any perspiration from penetrating into the transducer.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

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UK - Innovations set to have a major impact throughout the building and construction industry will be given pride of place at Interbuild 2004. New Product Zones are being introduced in four dedicated areas of the exhibition (which takes place at the Birmingham NEC from April 25-29), and each of the items featured will be automatically entered for a new product award. There will be seven categories - Best Lighting and Electrical Product, Best Interior Product, Best Exterior Product, Best On-Site Product, Energy Efficiency Award, Disability Access Award and Best Overall Product.

Steve Webb, event director for Interbuild said: "Interbuild has always been regarded within the industry as the perfect place to introduce new ideas, and we feel it is only right to give them a greater profile. That's why we have devised a scheme to promote the new products before and during the event

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UK - XL Video is supplying the Royal Court's acclaimed production of Hitchcock Blonde, written and directed by Terry Johnson, with video equipment to realize a series of projected sets, backdrops and special effects.

The show has now transferred to The Lyric Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, for a West End run. XL was approached by Dick Straker of Mesmer, a theatre video specialist, who co-ordinated and produced the show's video for designers Bill Dudley and Terry Johnson. Dudley is a pioneer in the use pf computer generated images and projection to create integrated and dramatic onstage locations or scenic effects.

The fascinating Hitchcock Blonde plot's dark intricacies unfold around a university professor and one of his students, ensconced in a villa on a Greek Island, restoring what they believe is a rare unseen reel of Hitchcock film. Both front and rear projectio

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USA - Corvette celebrated half a century of being one of America's most recognized Sports Car on June 30, 2003. All eyes were on Nashville, Tennessee, for the celebrations where Bandit Lites provided the lighting for several events, including the concert by ZZ Top on Saturday June 28th. The company was also responsible for transforming the Nashville Coliseum's parking lot into an indoor showroom, highlighting Corvette's from past and present.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

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UK - HW International, the leading UK pro audio distributor, has announced that it will commence trading as Shure Distribution UK, after recently being acquired by USA-based manufacturer Shure Incorporated.

As a Shure subsidiary, Shure Distribution UK will continue to carry Shure, Phonic, PreSonus and QSC Audio brands, plus the latest addition to its portfolio, Aviom. The name change will not affect customers' day-to-day dealings with the company, as the staff and structure of the company will remain unchanged. At the forthcoming PLASA Show on stand F50, Shure Distribution UK will officially unveil the company's new identity including new website and product catalogue.

(Ruth Rossington)

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